Apple donates $1M to Kerala flood relief efforts

After opening iTunes' donation mechanism earlier this week to help victims of the Kerala floods in India, Apple on Saturday pledged 70,000,000 Indian Rupees (about $1 million) to support Mercy Corps efforts in the region.

Apple in a statement to Indian news wire service Indo Asian News Service (via the Khaleej Times) said it is "heartbroken" by the Kerala floods that claimed hundreds of lives and displaced millions.

"We're heartbroken by the catastrophic flooding in Kerala. Apple is donating Rs 7 crore to support the life saving work Mercy Corps India and the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund are undertaking to support survivors, help those who have been displaced and rebuild homes and schools," Apple said.

The company went on to note the activation of its donation service, allowing customers to contribute to ongoing Mercy Corps efforts through a dedicated button in iTunes and the App Store.

As usual, users can donate $5, $10, $25, $50, $100 or $200, with the full amount going directly to the humanitarian aid group.

Flooding in the Indian state began in June with the onset of unusually heavy monsoon rains. The unrelenting downpours continued until this week, leaving some 400 people dead and more than a million displaced, according to the latest statistics reported by BBC News. The region remains in dire straits even as floodwaters subside, with residents returning from shelters to find deadly snakes, scorpions and other wildlife now inhabiting their homes.

Apple regularly uses iTunes and the App Store to process donations for natural disasters, both in the U.S. and beyond. Most recently, the company activated the mechanism for California's wildfires this month.

The company went on to note the activation of its donation service, allowing customers to contribute to ongoing Mercy Corps efforts through a dedicated button in iTunes and the App Store.

As usual, users can donate $5, $10, $25, $50, $100 or $200, with the full amount going directly to the humanitarian aid group.

Apple's efforts and intentions are appreciated -- its donation will, likely act as an incentive to people to donate to this cause or other causes of their choice.

However, I was unable to find the referenced donation service or buttons by visiting/searching iTunes or the App Store. Eventually, I found the page by following the link in [original page of] this article --> Link to another AI Article --> Donation Button Link --> Mercy Corps Page in iTunes Store containing Donation Buttons.

This process appears to be a lot more opaque and involved than it needs to be.

Why couldn't Apple:

Setup a separate category in the App Store/iTunes for donations to special causes and charities

The company went on to note the activation of its donation service, allowing customers to contribute to ongoing Mercy Corps efforts through a dedicated button in iTunes and the App Store.

As usual, users can donate $5, $10, $25, $50, $100 or $200, with the full amount going directly to the humanitarian aid group.

Apple's efforts and intentions are appreciated -- its donation will, likely act as an incentive to people to donate to this cause or other causes of their choice.

However, I was unable to find the referenced donation service or buttons by visiting/searching iTunes or the App Store. Eventually, I found the page by following the link in [original page of] this article --> Link to another AI Article --> Donation Button Link --> Mercy Corps Page in iTunes Store containing Donation Buttons.

This process appears to be a lot more opaque and involved than it needs to be.

Why couldn't Apple:

Setup a separate category in the App Store/iTunes for donations to special causes and charities

You are aware a smaller percentage of Apple income is now made in the US than the rest of the world? Besides, what a terrible thing to come in with. Surprised by you, Spam.

You are aware Apple gets nearly half its revenue from the US and gets more revenue from the US than any other country by far. Its revenue from India is nearly non-existant since India won't allow phones not made in India to be sold in India. What a concept.

SpamSandwich had a valid point (certainly not, as you say, a terrible thing to come in with). I'm sure Apple's donation was politically motivated as well as it struggles to get market share there. Apple is not the UN. There are natural disasters everywhere all the time, Apple can't make a $1M+ donation to all of them.

Gosh! What a very generous gesture by a $1 Trillion company.
And to think, the Indian government was causing Apple trouble recently too.
Wait! They give more to China. That market must be worth more to them then.

Gosh! What a very generous gesture by a $1 Trillion company.
And to think, the Indian government was causing Apple trouble recently too.
Wait! They give more to China. That market must be worth more to them then.

You know...they could have donated....NOTHING! Just another thankless jerk...

Expect a new campaign to help Hawaii and other disasters the Red Cross is assisting with soon. Those of us lucky enough to have more than the bare minimum needed for survival have, IMO, a responsibility to help out those who have had such things taken away from them.

Gosh! What a very generous gesture by a $1 Trillion company.
And to think, the Indian government was causing Apple trouble recently too.
Wait! They give more to China. That market must be worth more to them then.

Also, a $1 Trillion company doesn't mean they have $1 Trillion in cash. I don't know why people still think this. They have approximately 25% of that actually.